Why Eric Cantor really resigned

In his decision to quit Congress altogether, Eric Cantor gave only one reason: so his successor could get a head start and “have a voice in what will be a very consequential lame-duck session.”

But several GOP lawmakers and aides suggested to POLITICO that there was more to this move. The last thing he wanted, they said, was to endure the humbling shift from 11 years in the leadership to being a back bencher, even if only for four months. And, they said he was already focused on the next chapter of his life in the private sector.

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Although members can explore new job opportunities while still in office, his departure from Congress means that Cantor won’t have to disclose any companies or firms with whom he may be negotiating for a job.

Cantor never moved to the small Capitol office space he was scheduled to take over as a consolation prize for losing his sprawling majority leader suite. Several Republicans said that as soon as Cantor lost to economics professor Dave Brat in the Republican primary June 10, there were signs that he wasn’t going to finish out his term.

“Eric is a doer — there’s not a lot to do,” said a former Cantor aide, who was watching Cantor closely since his primary defeat. “Clearly he’s been traveling and talking to a lot of people.”

One House Republican lawmaker said that as soon as Cantor lost, “his mind already began to focus on the next part of his life.”

Still, only a small set of senior aides knew Thursday afternoon that Cantor was about to end his congressional career. His staff later that day alerted his leadership colleagues of his pending announcement.

And at the farewell that afternoon, there was no hint of his decision.

Dozens of his current and former aides — Team Cantor, as they call themselves — gathered around the massive dark wood table in his conference room, listening to Steve Stombres, Cantor’s longtime chief of staff, thank them for their service to the Virginia Republican. Then they watched a slide show of photos that Stombres put together of Cantor and his aides over the years.

Cantor, who had just bid farewell to his colleagues on the House floor, was joined by his daughter, Jenna. He told the group he considered each of them family. While he was speaking, Cantor, who usually prides himself on his reserved bearing, became emotional.

The aides then presented Cantor with a bowl inscribed with the names of every one of his staffers, political aides and even security detail.

When he left the room, his former staffers broke out beer and wine. Cantor, though, didn’t give any hints that just hours later, he would announce his resignation.

By Thursday night, Cantor was gone. He didn’t even cast a vote on the House floor.